Bolinger v Bell (No 2); The Estate of Colin Bell [2022] NSWSC 1495

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Bolinger v Bell (No 2); The Estate of Colin Bell [2022] NSWSC 1495 Hearing dates: 29 June, 8 September 2022; final written submissions ending 24 October 2022 Date of orders: 3 November 2022 Decision date: 03 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Hallen J Decision: See [287] Catchwords: CIVIL PROCEDURE – Cross-vesting – Protracted family law proceedings transferred from Family Court of Australia to Supreme Court where there are Probate proceedings and family provision proceedings – Way in which to deal with the different proceedings in the Supreme Court – Separate proceedings, each seeking different relief and involving the same estate – Order that proceedings be heard consecutively FAMILY LAW – PROPERTY – Application for interim property orders by notice of motion filed by Applicant, the wife of the deceased – Respondent, who is the interim administrator of deceased's estate opposes application – Family law matter cross-vested to Supreme Court – Associated Probate and family provision order also sought – Limits on evidence as untested – Estate has the capacity to meet interim property order – Whether it is in the interests of justice to make an interim property order – Whether any interim property order by way of partial property settlement – Security for repayment agreed to be provided by applicant Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 56 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) ss 79, 80, 117, 121 Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Act 1987 (Cth) ss 5, 7, 13 NSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009 (NSW) ss 41, 72-73 Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) ss 73, 74, 92A Succession Act 2006 (NSW) ss 12, 62 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 28.2, 28.5 Cases Cited: Aviani v Loh (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1148 Barnell & Barnell (2020) 60 Fam LR 377; [2020] FamCFAFC 102 Bevan & Bevan (2013) 279 FLR 1; [2013] FamCAFC 116 Bing & Bing (2007) FLC 93-318; [2007] FamCA 418 Boensch v Pascoe (2016) 349 ALR 193; [2016] NSWCA 191 Bollinger v Bell; The Estate of the Late Colin Bell [2022] NSWSC 486 Cao & Trong (No. 2) [2019] FamCA 941 Commissioner of Stamp Duties v Livingston (1964) 112 CLR 12 Dickons & Dickons (2012) 50 Fam LR 244; [2012] FamCAFC 154 Edgar & Strofield [2016] FamCAFC 93 Elias & Elias Pty Ltd atf the Elias Family Trust v Chidiac [2010] NSWSC 1364 Estate Hemmes; Cameron v Mead [2018] NSWSC 85 Fields & Smith (2015) FLC 93-638; [2015] FamCAFC 57 Gabel & Yardley (2008) 221 FLR 270; [2008] FamCAFC 162 Ghose v CX Reinsurance Company Ltd [2010] NSWSC 110 Gomez v Carrafa [2021] VSCA 37 Grace v Grace [2012] NSWSC 976 Grier & Malphas [2016] FamCAFC 84 Hall v Hall (2016) 257 CLR 490; [2016] HCA 23 Humphries v Newport Quays Stage 2A Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 699 In the Marriage of Davidson (1994) 117 FLR 335 In the Marriage of Fisher (1986) 161 CLR 438; [1986] HCA 61 In the Marriage of Harris (1993) 113 FLR 472 In the Marriage of Mee and Ferguson (1986) 84 FLR 179 In the Marriage of Poletti (1990) 105 FLR 312 In the Marriage of Robb (1994) 18 Fam LR 489; (1995) FLC 92-555 In the Marriage of Yunghanns (1999) 149 FLR 247 Iphostrou & Iphostrou [2011] FamCA 20 Karlsson v Griffith University (2020) 103 NSWLR 131; [2020] NSWCA 176 Kyriacou v Raphis Securities Pty Ltd [2022] NSWSC 196 Leventis & Leventis [2021] FedCFamC1F 46 Lovine & Connor (2012) FLC 93-515; [2012] FamCFAFC 168 Macrina & Macrina [2021] FedCFamC2F 287 Mallet & Mallet (1984) 156 CLR 605; [1984] HCA 21 Marshall & Marshall [2015] FamCA 712 Marzol v Joubert; Marzol v Killen [2018] NSWSC 586 May & May [2022] FedCFamC1F 227 Medlow & Medlow (2016) 306 FLR 183; [2016] FamCAFC 34 Morris Finance Ltd v Brown (2016) 93 NSWLR 551; [2016] NSWCA 343 Mulford & Mulford [2019] FamCA 843 Novakovic & Novakovic [2012] FamCA 809 Osferatu & Osferatu [2012] FamCA 408 Paris King Investments Pty Ltd v Rayhill [2006] NSWSC 578 Salvage & Fosse (2020) 61 FamLR 45; [2020] FamCAFC 144 Sirola & Sirola [2018] FamCA 1011 Skinner v Shine Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1709 Smith v Jones (No. 3) [2022] NSWSC 1448 Sresbodan & Sresbodan [2013] FamCA 480 Stanford v Stanford (2012) 247 CLR 108; [2012] HCA 52 Strahan & Strahan (Interim Property Orders) (2009) 241 FLR 1; [2009] FamCAFC 166 Sully & Sully (No 2) [2016] FamCA 706 Swift & Swift [2020] FamCA 991 Tasmanian Trustee Ltd v Gleeson (1990) 14 FamLR 189. Valceski v Valceski (2007) 70 NSWLR 36 Verdon & Verdon (2020) 62 FamLR 573 Wilson v Minister for Land and Water Conservation for NSW (2003) 126 FCR 500; [2003] FCA 307 Xie v Li [2019] NSWSC 808 Zha & Wun (No 2) [2022] FedCFamC1F 576 Zschokke & Zschokke (1996) 133 FLR 375 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Donna-May Bolinger (Plaintiff) Ned Bell (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr R Wilson SC; Mr J E F Brown (29 June 2022); Ms J Needham SC and Mr I Duane (8 September 2022) (Plaintiff) Mr M Kearney SC with Mr A R Langshaw (Defendant)